Is a full skid plate necessary?

I'll take a look at it, thanks!

 

I bought skids because I used them. For your driving it does not sound like you need them at all. Things to remember about them:

1 - they are heavy
2 - they need to come off at least once a year so you can clean under them. - I did a job during Spring break up where the top side of the skids became caked with mud even with daily pressure washing. Once dropped, I got 2/3rds of a wheel barrel of dried mud off them.
3 - they reduce clearance - I run a 32" tire, 1" up on stock. The skids lost me the 1/2" and more I claimed with slightly larger tires. I have roughly the same clearance as a Rav 4 now.
4 - they are a PIA to take off and put on. Getting to and the amount of swing available to the nuts of the topside of the skid is crappy.
5 - front skid, at least on mine, has to come off to change the oil filter.

All that said, I have used them and been glad to have them but I never had them on my 2nd Gen and the stock soft steel front skid was beaten, battered and barely hanging on. With my 3rd Gen, my aftermarket bumper isn't compatible with the stock skid and I wasn't about to leave the oil filter unprotected.

Big Country Customs - Abbotsford BC built mine.



Went through the dimple die cut outs like toothpaste through a tube.